Greater Competition will be Encouraged in ICT Sector – Mullings

Minister of Energy, Mining and Telecommunications, Clive Mullings, has said that even greater competition would be encouraged in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
Addressing the gala dinner of the 5th annual Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) forum, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay on September 24, the Minister emphasized that whereas players already in the sector must be applauded for their innovations, attracting more local and international investors to the sector was essential for the creation of jobs and the increase in national growth.
He said that Jamaica has made significant strides in creating a business/consumer friendly environment for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) promotion, development and expansion, with the necessary steps taken to ensure that the requisite legal and regulatory framework is in place to facilitate the process.
“I want to assure you of our commitment to the development and sustainability of the ICT sector nationally, regionally and internationally. We strongly believe that ICT is one of the major accelerators of social and economic development,” the Minister said.
He cited the E-Transaction Act of 2006, which encourages persons to conduct business online with confidence, and announced that a public education campaign on the Act would be undertaken from October to December 2007, with a view to advising major stakeholders and the general public of their roles, rights, responsibilities and benefits under the Act.
Mr. Mullings said that with the strides Jamaica was making in the telecommunications industry, the country should continue to progress with the solutions provided through Next Generation Networks (NGN). “As the premier CARICOM nation to establish a comprehensive telecommunications legislation addressing such issues as interconnection, spectrum management, numbering, competitive safeguards, universal service and consumer protection, and with the many developments taking place within the Commonwealth, I believe there are many opportunities for us in the offerings of Next Generation Networks,” he said.
He said that as members of the Commonwealth and more specifically, of the developing world, it was imperative to keep apace with new and emerging technologies, such as those supported by the Next Generation Networks.
Approximately 150 delegates from 35 Commonwealth countries are participating in the forum, which is being held from September 24-26 under the theme: ‘Harnessing the potential of Next Generation Networks (NGNs) to facilitate ICT Convergence’.